Mullett Township OKs fireworks law

If you are a large group that wants to conduct a public firework display in Mullett Township, you will need to get a permit and follow an ordinance that was adopted by the board of trustees Monday night.

If you are a large group that wants to conduct a public firework display in Mullett Township, you will need to get a permit and follow an ordinance that was adopted by the board of trustees Monday night.

Before its adoption though, township treasurer Kathy Flory wanted to make sure who was going to be affected by the ordinance.

“I don’t want to come after individuals who want to have their own fireworks,” she said. Township supervisor Mary Anne Gale also echoed the same sentiments.

“This just deals with pyrotechnic displays. Pyrotechnic displays are those that are set off by commercial-type entities,” said township attorney Tim MacArthur. “This is not an attempt to regulate the discharge of consumer fireworks. Some townships are trying to do that.”

To conduct such a display, those entities now will need to pay a $100 permit fee as well as provide liability insurance and a site plan.

“If everything passes muster, then you can issue the permit. It is as simple as that,” MacArthur said. “The idea behind this ordinance is to provide some type of structure and some type of recovery if something goes wrong.”

The measure passed unanimously.

In other action, John Parrott, fire chief of the East Mullett Fire Department, reported six men were interested in being first responders, and two men just got certified.

“Due to the fact that the county has three ambulances — two in Cheboygan and one in Indian River — and if two get called out, our side of the lake is virtually along ways away from care,” he said. “This area, for quite a bit of time, is left without an ambulance.”

He said the cost would be between $300-$400 a person since a private individual would do the training. If the men went through North Central Michigan College, it could be as high as $2,000 per man.

“This is not easy,” Parrott added. “However, now I have two more national certified state registered first responders on my fire department.”

The board also agreed to have several people look at the leaking roof on the East Mullett Fire Department building.

Contractors have looked at the structure before, but they have been awaiting word as to what work the board is expecting.

Trustee John Brown said there could be an issue where just part of the roof would need replaced and not the whole thing.

The board asked for the contractors to be contacted again and estimates be obtained on what may need to be done.